Polished California pop rock defined by intricate three-part harmonies and tight R&B grooves. A warm, sunset-drenched meditation on regret and romantic growth.
It's like Fleetwood Mac went to a 90s R&B party in the middle of a California sunset.
A sophisticated blend of rhythmic confidence and post-breakup introspection.
Released in 2017, Something to Tell You is the sophomore effort from the Los Angeles trio HAIM. Following the massive success of their debut, the sisters (Este, Danielle, and Alana) leaned further into their love for classic 70s soft rock (Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles) while integrating sophisticated 90s R&B production techniques. Produced largely by Ariel Rechtshaid and Rostam Batmanglij, the album is characterized by its 'dry' sonic palette - minimal reverb, upfront vocals, and highly syncopated percussion. The track 'Little of Your Love' famously originated from a rejected film soundtrack pitch, serving as the creative spark the band needed to overcome 'sophomore slump' anxieties. Critics noted the album's increased focus on technical musicianship and complex vocal arrangements compared to their debut. While it maintains their signature 'sunny' exterior, the lyrical content is notably more somber, dealing with the fallout of long-term relationships and the clarity that comes with distance.
Put this on for
Sunroof open on the PCH as the sky turns violent pinkThat specific silence after a breakup when you realize you were the problemKitchen floor dancing while the coffee brews and the house is still quietLate night freeway loops just to hear the bass rattle the door panelsGold jewelry clinking against a glass during a backyard dinner partyWalking through the city with headphones on feeling like the protagonistSunday morning bed sheets and the light hitting the dust motes just right
Moments worth waiting for
The explosive drum fill that kicks off the bridge in Want You Back
The way the three voices lock into a tight, percussive rhythmic grid on the chorus of Little of Your Love
The sparse, haunting organ and isolated vocal that closes the album on Night So Long
Sounds like
2017s production with a 2010s soul
Sits beside
Tango in the Night - Fleetwood Mac, Days Are Gone - HAIM, Modern Vampires of the City - Vampire Weekend, The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs - Wye Oak
Lyrical territory
love_lost, self_examination, nostalgia
03Deviation
Something to Tell You · vs · HAIM
Artist
This Album
High Energy
Energy · ↑ +15% more than usual
On this album, high energy sits about 15% more prominent than across the rest of the artist's catalogue.
